446 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



Many amateur gardeners are not the fortunate possessors of 

 heated glass structures, but they need not on that account despair 

 of preserving their fuchsias through the winter. If they have a 

 cold greenhouse the plants may be stored under the benches, as 

 shown in Figure 3 of the diagram. The great thing to bear in 

 mind is that they must be kept dry. If this is done all the 

 protection necessary can be afforded by sheets of calico or sacking, 

 which should be placed lightly over the plants during severe 

 frost. 



Where space is a consideration fuchsias may be safely wintered 

 if the old roots are placed close together in a fairly deep box. If 

 placed under glass, either in a greenhouse or a frame, they will come 

 to little harm. 



GLOXINIA. See Chapter XXXII. 



HYDRANGEA. For decorative purposes in the garden there are 

 few shrubs that excel the hydrangea. The hydrangea is almost 

 hardy, and therefore requires cool treatment. 



The autumn is the time, if it is desired to increase one's stock of 

 plants, to do so by means of cuttings. These should be secured 

 from strong, healthy plants, and should consist of the tops of 

 vigorous shoots about five inches long. The lowest pairs of leaves 

 should be stripped off and the cutting inserted singly in a small 

 pot filled with sandy loam. The pots should, if possible, be plunged 

 to the rim in a gentle hotbed over which a frame-light can be 

 placed. Here the cuttings will root, and when growth becomes 

 active the young plants can be removed to a cool greenhouse. In 

 this position they will grow sturdily until the time comes for 

 planting out. 



The hydrangea, which means literally " water vessel," is above 

 everything else a moisture-loving plant. When it is in full growth 

 water must be supplied in copious quantities if it is to thrive. The 

 most common forms of hydrangea are Hortensia (pink) and pani- 

 culata grandiflora (white). The latter bears fine heads of bloom 

 of pyramid shape, and forms a magnificent picture if massed in a 

 bed and planted in deep, rich soil. Another variety worthy of the 

 attention of the amateur is hydrangea petiolaris a climber, which 



